Attendance & Absences

Attendance Information

Under Act 29, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, all district
parents, students and community members should be aware that there are
monetary fines levied on the parents of school-age children who have
unlawful absences from school. Under the Compulsory School Attendance
Laws, three (3) unexcused absences per year, per student, are permitted,
but the district must file a citation with a district magistrate
against the parents of any student for the fourth (4th) and all
subsequent offenses, with penalties of up to $300 per unlawful absence.
Once cited for unlawful absences, at the magistrate's discretion, the
offending student may have his or her driver's license suspended. If the
student is under the age of 16, the magistrate may delay the student's
ability to apply for a driver's license.

Absences From School

The
school district cooperates with parents in implementing its School
Absence Procedure. Parents are asked to call the school when their child
is absent.

The
automated operator is available 24 hours a day, so parents may call at
any time to leave a message regarding a student's absence. Parents are
asked to call the school as soon as the absence is known. Parents also
are encouraged to call and leave a message if their child will be tardy.

Excused Absences:
Sickness, impassable roads, quarantine, death in the immediate family,
approved educational trips or weather so inclement as to endanger the
health or welfare of a child.*

Unexcused Absences:
Under Pennsylvania School Law, an unlawful absence refers to
circumstances such as parental neglect, illegal employment or truancy of
a student of compulsory attendance age.

Tardiness:
Students are considered tardy if they are not at their assigned
"student stations" when the bell rings. Principals may assign students
after-school detention to make up for such tardiness. Students who are
excessively tardy without valid excuses may be suspended. If you know
your child will be tardy due to a medical or dental appointment, please
call the automated attendance operator to report it.

*Educational Trips and/or Tours will not be approved for students in Grades 3 through 11 during PSSA Testing Windows.

Please
Note: A certificate of recovery from a physician is necessary for
readmission to school when a student has been absent because of
infectious diseases such as: measles, whooping cough, respiratory
infections, scarlet fever, pink eye, impetigo, scabies and ringworm.
Students absent for five (5) or more consecutive days should have a
certificate from a physician. Students who miss more than ten (10)
school days per year may be required to have a physician's certificate
for each absence thereafter.